A Pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Professor Sunday Shoyemi, on Friday, October 20, told a Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), that Oluwabamise Ayanwola’s death was caused by a blunt force trauma.

Shoyemi, the ninth and last prosecuting witness while giving evidence before Justice Sherifat Sonaike, said that the 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, who was allegedly raped and killed by a BRT driver, in the light of his findings, died as a result of severe craniocerebral injury following a blunt force trauma.

Andrew Nice Ominnikoron, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver is facing five-count charges bordering on felony, sexual assault, rape, conspiracy, and murder before Justice Sherifat Sonaike.

Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, Prof. Shoyemi, narrated to the court how the autopsy was conducted.

In his narration, he mentioned that the body had no clothing but a silver-coloured ring was found on her (Bamise) middle finger.

He said: “I observed a bruise on the left side of her forehead, another on the right temple just above her ear, and a large bruise on the back of her skull. In addition, there was a bruise on the elbow region.”

All these findings according to the pathologist were all on the external appearance of the deceased while adding that all these observations were before when the autopsy was conducted.

“Upon opening up, there’s what we call Subdural hematoma, which means bleeding into the soft tissue covering the skull or bleeding into the brain. This was noticed on the frontal area as well as the back of the skull. Again, there was a fracture of the temporal bone, meaning the bone above the ear.”

“I checked for deep bruising, meaning ‘the bruises we will not be able to see under the skin unless it is removed. These deep bruises were found on both lower lips. The organs were essentially normal except the right ovary which has a cyst (Fluid Collection).”

This according to him, was an incidental finding which has nothing to do with death.

He went further to tell the court that, “Tiny samples were taken from all the organs and were sent to the Laboratories. The samples were looked at under the microscope and no remarkable findings were seen.”

“I specifically took samples of the breast and uterus to check for pregnancy but nothing was found. In the light of both the external and internal findings, death was ascribed to severe craniocerebral injury, following a blunt force trauma.

Prof. Shoyemi also told the court that, during the examination, he took samples from the deceased for identification while adding that another sample was taken for toxicology, which has also been sent to the Lagos State DNA forensic Lab.

He clarified that the interim report had been given to the Investigating Police Officer, CSP Oseni, the head of homicide, State Criminal Investigation Department SCID, Panti, who was also present during the autopsy and gave the full report to the DPP.

While being cross-examined by Abayomi Omotubora, the defence counsel, the witness confirmed to the court that the IPO provided all the information about the deceased before the autopsy was conducted.

He however clarified that the information provided by the IPO does not form the basis of the cause of death of Bamise.

After the cross-examination, Mr. Omotubora called the attention of the court on a pending application dated 21^st of September 2023, to recall some of the prosecuting witnesses.

“We have a pending application to recall some of the Prosecution witnesses for the purpose of further cross-examination by the defence.”

In response to the defence, Dr. Babajide Martins opposed the application to recall the witnesses.

After listening to the argument of both counsels, Justice Sonaike reserved her ruling for November 2, 2023, and the continuation of the trial. (The Nation: Text, Excluding Headline)

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